Well-defined platinum palladium@palladium core shell nanospheres (PtPd@Pd NSs) are synthesized by a facile one-pot solution approach using N-methylimidazole and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as directing and capping agents, respectively, without using any seed, template, or organic solvent. The coexistence of the precursors, N-methylimidazole, PVP, and reaction temperature has great effects on the final morphology. Thus-prepared nanocomposites display an improved electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media, methanol and ethylene glycol oxidation reaction in alkaline media, compared with Pt nanoparticles, Pd nanoparticles, commercial Pt black and Pd black catalysts. This method may direct a general orientation for shape control synthesis of functional bimetallic nanocrystals as promising electrocatalysts in direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.